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June 2, 2022   |   By The New York Community Trust
Smart philanthropy: Making charitable giving a family matter

This spring, The Trust is speaking with experts about contemporary issues in philanthropy.

These interactive briefings give our donors an opportunity to think about their philanthropic legacy and how to align it with their personal vision and values. To learn more about joining our community of compassionate donors, contact our vice president for donor relations, John Oddy, at jjo@nyct-cfi.org or visit our Give page.

Helping others can bring a sense of joy and satisfaction to the giver, so philanthropy can be the focus of a wonderful tradition for families to explore together. In a recent donor briefing, The Trust’s vice president for donor relations, John Oddy, explained various ways to discuss values, philanthropy, and finances with family members of all ages. Excerpts of his briefing are below.

 

Talking to children of different ages about philanthropy

Oddy breaks down the strategies by the age of the young people involved: pre-teen, teen, and adult children. He notes that the discussion should be geared to what the children understand and see in their own experiences—within the family and outside in the world around them.

 

Dividing up the family’s giving

Given the urgency of so many issues facing us today, a family may get stuck in the process of how to best use their charitable dollars, and to negotiate different priorities among the family members. Oddy suggests that families can divide their overall giving into buckets that address their foremost concerns.

 

Articulating families’ common values

A family may be individually and collectively charitable, but the process of giving together can let you explore and discuss your values. Oddy notes that by simply looking at one’s daily activities, a family can identify the the underlying values that become a basis for charitable giving.

Press Contact Information

Peter Panapento
peter@turn-two.co
(202) 531-3886

Courtney Biggs
cbi@nyct-cfi.org
(212) 889-3963

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Press Contact Information

Peter Panapento
peter@turn-two.co
(202) 531-3886

Courtney Biggs
cbi@nyct-cfi.org
(212) 889-3963

>> Get our press kit <<

Statue of Liberty in Red